[VIDEO] Police Step Up Patrols In East Atlanta And Grant Park

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ATLANTA (AP/WAOK) — Atlanta Police say they will assign extra patrols to an east Atlanta neighborhood after a string of violent crime there and in the nearby Grant Park area.

Residents of East Atlanta Village say the show of force is long overdue.

Atlanta Police Chief George Turner says that investigators believe the crimes are connected to the same suspects and may be gang related.

In one case, 33-year-old video game engineer Patrick Cotrona was shot to death Saturday night near Flat Shoals and May avenues while walking from his home to a local pub.

Police are focusing on at least four other incidents — each involving two male suspects — dating back to May 17, when Grant Park resident Saman Balkhanian was shot in the head and robbed while walking home from an Atlanta Braves game.

The East Atlanta Village neighborhood association is also paying more money for off duty police officers to patrol the neighborhood. If you have any information on any of these crimes please call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS.